inferior conjunction
noun
: a conjunction of an inferior planet with the sun in which the planet is aligned between the earth and the sun
Examples of inferior conjunction in a Sentence
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Rise to prominence On Nov. 20, Mercury was at inferior conjunction with the sun, passing roughly between the sun and our Earth.
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Joe Rao, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Venus As The ‘Morning Star’ After spending the last six months in the evening sky for all to see, on March 23, Venus passed between Earth and the sun — a moment sky-watchers call inferior conjunction — and returned to the pre-sunrise morning sky.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
The orbit Venus takes around the sun periodically results in a phenomenon astronomers refer to as an inferior conjunction, which occurs when the planet transitions from appearing in the evening sky to the morning sky.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
This is happening a few days before its inferior conjunction (March 23), which occurs when a planet passes approximately between Earth and the sun.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
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Joe Rao, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
Venus As The ‘Morning Star’ After spending the last six months in the evening sky for all to see, on March 23, Venus passed between Earth and the sun — a moment sky-watchers call inferior conjunction — and returned to the pre-sunrise morning sky.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
The orbit Venus takes around the sun periodically results in a phenomenon astronomers refer to as an inferior conjunction, which occurs when the planet transitions from appearing in the evening sky to the morning sky.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
This is happening a few days before its inferior conjunction (March 23), which occurs when a planet passes approximately between Earth and the sun.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Inferior conjunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inferior%20conjunction. Accessed 24 Dec. 2025.
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